Journal of Food Safety and Quality

Objective To investigate and analyze the contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in 4 kinds of medicinal and edible substances, Aucklandiae radix, Citrus reticulatae pericarpium, Polygonati rhizoma, Fritillaria cirrhose bulbus in Chongqing, and assess human exposure risk from PAHs residues through ingestion of 4 kinds of substances. Methods A total of 160 samples were collected from 10 districts/counties in Chongqing. The residues of 16 kinds of PAHs were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The contamination levels were evaluated based on the maximum residue limits of benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 (sum of benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) set by the European Commission for “food supplements containing botanicals and their preparations” and “dried herbs”. The pollution characteristics of PAHs in the 4 kinds of substances were analyzed, and the sources were identified using isomer ratio analysis. Health risk assessment was conducted using the increased lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Results PAHs were detected in all Aucklandiae radix, Citrus reticulatae pericarpium, Polygonati rhizoma, Fritillaria cirrhose bulbus. The detection rate of the highly carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene was 24%, with an exceedance rate of 1.25%, while the exceedance rate for PAH4 was 1.9%. Citrus reticulata peel exhibited the highest benzo[a]pyrene detection rate (83%), and its maximum PAH4 content reached 151.66 μg/kg, exceeding the MRL by more than threefold. PAHs in all 4 kinds of substances were predominantly low-molecular-weight 2–3 ring compounds. The ILCR values of cancer risk caused by taking 4 kinds of substances in different populations were 1.46×10–7–7.26×10–7, 1.21×10–6–6.04×10–6, 1.89×10–7–9.38×10–7, 6.96×10–8–3.46×10–7, respectively. Conclusion The 4 kinds of dual-purpose substances are contaminated with PAHs at varying levels, primarily due to biomass or coal combustion. The health risks from oral intake of Aucklandiae radix, Polygonati rhizoma, Fritillaria cirrhose bulbu are low and within acceptable limits. However, Citrus reticulatae pericarpium poses a potential health risk due to PAHs exposure, warranting further attention.

medicinal and edible substances; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; pollution status; risk assessment